When I Met Mark: Falling in Love with His Family

This is a story about Mark.
The end of term was approaching and was getting ready to study for a final. I was walking out of class, and Mark (whom I had never spoken to before because he was out of my league) struck up a conversation about getting a group together to study. He got my number and said he'd coordinate with me about the time. He texted me while I was walking home.

"When did you want to take the test?" he asked.
"Probably tomorrow or Monday, what about you?"
"I'm taking it tonight."
I was surprised, since that meant we would, in fact, not be studying together.
"Oh! That soon? I will need to study a bit more, I think."
 He had family in town and needed to take it soon.

Next, he surprised me by asking me if I would like to join him the next day--he and some friends were going to the hot springs. I accepted.

Early the next morning he picked me up and we drove to the hot springs with four of his friends. I was immediately impressed by him. He was smart, funny, and easy to talk to. Needless to say, I had a lovely time. On the drive home he mentioned that he and and some friends would be playing volleyball later that day and invited me to come. So, a few hours later, he picked me up again. I was horrible at the sport, but he didn't seem to mind.

That week, we studied together a few times. He brought his guitar to my apartment and we sang together. If a man wants to win my heart, he only has to sing to me. Sing with me.  Or play for me. I'm a sucker for a musical man.

The next weekend he invited me to a local outdoor concert. Mark would be helping his friend propose, oh, and did I mention that most of Mark's family would be there? I was a little nervous.

I met his family before the proposal, they were all very friendly--I was at ease around them. He left me with them while he helped with the proposal. After witnessing the proposal we went to dinner with his family. I'd only spent 2 or 3 hours with them, but I loved them already. (This fact might give you a clue as to what kind of people they were.) Mind you, this was only the second date. If you can even count going to the hot springs or playing volleyball with friends as a date...

We made it to the remainder of the concert, and he took me home. There wasn't any parking close to my apartment so we had to walk a little farther than usual. We talked and laughed. He held my hand.

*Maybe this is just me, but whenever a fella holds my hand, it catches me off guard and I usually can't think. Or if I'm talking, I can't speak. It's almost debilitating. Rather silly, I know.

So, he walked me home. After a hug goodnight, I went inside to Skype my sister and brother in-law in Texas. While I was talking to my sister I got a text from Mark. He asked if I was still awake. He asked if he could come over again.

So, he met my sister and brother in-law over Skype, and then we sang for them. (His guitar was still in my apartment).

The next day we went with some of my friends to a giant rope swing at a smallish lake. And on the way home we stopped at a hole-in-the-wall  burger place for shakes. (it was a side-of-a-dirt-road burger place, actually). At the end of the evening, I thought things were going well.

But that was it. He never called again after that night. We saw each other in class, he was cordial, but nothing more.

So, I'll just say this:

If you have an awesome family, don't introduce your date to them unless you're planning on keeping her around for a while. She may fall in love with your family and be disappointed when you decide to not date her anymore.

Okay, that wasn't the ONLY reason I was disappointed, but it was one of them.

Love,
Lady L.

20 Seconds

You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it. --Benjamin Mee, We Bought a Zoo

I'm crazy. Let's just put that out there.

So when you sit in the same area of the library every day, you get to know people's faces pretty well. Well, there was one face that interested me, caught my attention. He worked in the library, shelving books and I saw him about twice a week. I couldn't think of any logical way to introduce myself casually, so mustered up some courage and wrote a note. It went like this:

To the cute shelving-cart guy:

Since I only ever see you in the library, and we can't really talk, I thought I'd write you a note and invite you to be my friend. If  you'd like to accept this offer, then we should hang out sometime.

I signed my name and wrote my number just below it.

Yeah. I know. Just remember what I told you at the beginning of this post: I'm crazy.

So, with the note written and folded in half, I packed up my stuff and waited for the opportune moment. 

Luckily, I made the best of the opportune moment. (Thank you Jack Sparrow).

He walked past where I was studying. I picked up my things and headed toward him. 

I handed him the note, said: "this is for you," and left.

I thought I was going to die.

I don't do things like that. EVER.

BUT I did. 

I walked home, shaking like a leaf, but feeling preeeetty good about myself. 

Two hours later he texted me. Here's how it went:

"Hi Lady, This is Scott, the book-shelving guy. I actually have a girlfriend, but I'm flattered, and I think it's great that you had the guts to make a move like that. Sorry to disappoint!"

And you know what? I was fine with it. I had done something crazy and gutsy, and I was pretty dang proud of myself. 

So, try it out. It only takes 20 seconds of insane courage. Who knows, circumstances could be different for you. You'll never know unless you try.

--Lady L.

*names have been changed, like always.

First Date Mess-Ups

In a perfect dating world no one would ever do anything wrong. People would treat their dates cordially, no one would ever do anything embarrassing while trying to eat their over-sized, over-loaded piece of pizza, and no one would ever ramble incessantly.

Rambling incessantly is one of the things I do best, it is also one of my flaws. On a recent date I caught myself rambling. My poor date probably didn't care about the brand of flour I buy or my cousin's upcoming wedding or the 32nd question on last week's test. (Okay, I didn't really share any of those things, but you get the idea).

The point is: people do embarrassing things on first dates. Sometimes they say things they shouldn't. Some people are shy and don't say anything at all on a first date. Sometimes people are too forward. Sometimes they drip spaghetti sauce on themselves or spit little pieces of salad on their date. People are human. (Profound, I know.)

So the next time you're on a first date, cut your date some slack. If they're interested in you, they're probably nervous about making a good first impression. If your date messes up or does something embarrassing, be flattered! It's really a sign of their interest.

Good luck! ...And try not to spit salad on your date, that really is gross, not flattering.


Lady L.